British NVC community H6
NVC community H6 (Erica vagans - Ulex europaeus heath) is one of the heath communities in the British National Vegetation Classification system. It is one of five communities categorised as lowland dry heaths.
It has a very localised distribution in southern England. There are four subcommunities.
Community composition
[edit]The following constant species are found in this community:
- Brown Bent (Agrostis vinealis)
- Glaucous Sedge (Carex flacca)
- Bell Heather (Erica cinerea)
- Cornish Heath (Erica vagans)
- Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria)
- Common Gorse (Ulex europaeus)
- Western Gorse (Ulex gallii)
- Common Dog-violet (Viola riviniana)
A number of rare species are associated with the community: Bristle Bent (Agrostis curtisii), Chives (Allium schoenoprasum), Cornish Heath (Erica vagans), Dwarf Rush (Juncus capitatus), Spring Squill (Scilla verna) and Twin-headed Clover (Trifolium bocconei).
Distribution
[edit]This community is confined to The Lizard peninsula in Cornwall.
Subcommunities
[edit]There are four subcommunities:
- the so-called typical subcommunity
- the Festuca ovina subcommunity
- the Agrostis curtisii subcommunity
- the Molinia caerulea subcommunity
References
[edit]
- Rodwell, J. S. (1991) British Plant Communities Volume 2 - Mires and heaths ISBN 0-521-39165-2 (hardback), ISBN 0-521-62720-6 (paperback)